Report Summary
This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority's Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee with an overview of the findings of a recent survey conducted with Board Members and stakeholders, seeking their feedback on the overall effectiveness of the committee. The report is for Members consideration and seeks to inform overall evaluation of the committee’s effectiveness during 2024/25, and subsequent assurance reporting as part of the annual report and accounting process.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee - 6 February 2025
Date : 06 February 2025
Location : online
Background detail
Background
The Scottish Police Authority is committed to continuous improvement in the discharge of its responsibilities and its oversight and support for policing in Scotland. The Authority’s Corporate Governance Framework is subject to regular review with the most recent reviews reported to and approved by the Authority in November 2024. In addition, the Authority conducts an annual self-assessment of the effectiveness of Committees.
The Authority enhanced the 2024/25 committee effectiveness process by inviting key stakeholders to offer their assessment and views on the effectiveness of each of the Authority’s committees. Several stakeholders, listed below, were invited to complete a survey and offer comments. All stakeholders consulted have contributed to and/or attended a committee in the last year:
• Police Scotland
• Forensic Services
• PIRC
• COSLA
• Crown Office
• Scottish Government
• HMICS
• Biometrics Commissioner
• National Crime Agency
• Internal/External Audit
• SCPOSA
• ASPS
• SPF
• Unison
• Unite
To encourage open and frank responses, Members and stakeholders were invited to complete the survey anonymously.
To support accountability and transparency, the Authority is reporting the survey findings and holding all committee effectiveness discussions in public sessions of committee meetings.
Further detail in relation to the report
There are no specific requirements or direction on how public bodies should undertake effectiveness reviews. The Authority considers a range of relevant documents including ‘On Board’ guidance, the Scottish Government Audit and Assurance Committee Handbook and the CIPFA Good Governance Standard for Public Services.
The committee effectiveness survey for 2024/25 sought feedback in four key areas:
• Reporting to committees
• Committee priorities and progress
• Members’ capability and overall operation of the committee
• Delivery against the Terms of Reference
Four of the current five members of the Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee completed the survey. Three responses were submitted by stakeholders, with only one commenting on the Audit Risk and Assurance Committee.
